Former All Blacks Justin Marshall and Robbie Deans were in a jet boating accident in a Fiordland river on Wednesday.
A submerged log on the Wairaurahiri River ripped through the boat “like a can opener” but the pair had lifejackets and nobody was injured.
Wairaurahiri Wilderness Jet owner Paul Roff was also on the river and admitted he became concerned when he saw a seat from Deans’ boat floating down the river.
"As we were boating back up stream from the Waitutu Lodge we noted a fuel drum floating down the river," Roff said.
"We slowed down and picked it up, then a bag of clothes, then a sleeping bag [and] another bag of clothes. But when a seat out of a jet boat arrived my thoughts changed to, 'This is bloody serious'."
Marshall thanked everyone after the boat was taken out before being airlifted away by a helicopter.
"Amazing river and scenery, and as Robbie commented, 'We will be back'. But maybe not until next year," Marshall said.
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